The Asia Cup 2025 has turned into a theatre of controversies for Pakistan, with off-field antics overshadowing on-field cricket. The latest storm involves Mohsin Naqvi, who is not only the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President but also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief and the country’s Interior Minister. On Wednesday evening, Naqvi drew flak for amplifying Haris Rauf’s already-criticised “fighter jet crashing” celebration by posting a clip of football legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo video twisted into jet gesture
Naqvi shared a slow-motion video of Ronaldo making a dipping-hand motion, presenting it as an endorsement of Rauf’s controversial act. The Pakistani pacer had mimicked a crashing jet during India’s Asia Cup Super Four clash in Dubai, first in response to “Kohli, Kohli” chants from fans, and later while celebrating Sanju Samson’s dismissal.
The gesture, widely interpreted as a reference to Pakistan’s unsubstantiated claim of downing Indian jets during border tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack, triggered outrage across Indian cricket circles.
Embarrassment for ACC
For Naqvi, tasked with upholding the dignity of the eight-team tournament, the move has been called “childish” and “silly.” Critics argue that instead of defusing the situation, the ACC President has inflamed it further, dragging politics deeper into cricket.
https://twitter.com/Himansh81488905/status/197092734840625589
The controversy escalated when Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan added fuel with a “gun-firing” celebration after his half-century, drawing backlash in the wake of the Kashmir terror attack.
India lodges formal complaint
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding Rauf and Farhan’s actions. Officials are said to be monitoring Naqvi’s conduct as well, though no disciplinary step against him has been confirmed.
For Pakistan, however, the Asia Cup is slipping further from cricketing focus. With India storming into the final unbeaten, Naqvi’s tweet has only added to PCB’s embarrassment and undermined the credibility of the ACC’s leadership.
